English maestro William Haggas has confirmed plans to set Dubai Honour for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes next year and also has designs on the Golden Eagle in spring

Dubai Honour will aimed at back-to-back Queen Elizabeth Stakes’ next year and has been posted as favourite in opening markets on the race.

Tom Marquand celebrates after Dubai Honour brilliantly won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng–Getty Images

English maestro William Haggas is already planning Dubai Honour’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes title defence and also trying to identify the right horse for the Golden Eagle during the spring carnival later this year.

Haggas revealed his long-term plans the day after Dubai Honour thrashed an elite field in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

Dubai Honour won Sydney’s richest autumn carnival weight-for-age race by nearly three lengths from Mo’unga with Godolphin champion Anamoe a close third.

“He was too good, he confirmed the form from the Ranvet Stakes,’’ Haggas said.

“We were a little bit sceptical, all of us, that he had gone so well in the Ranvet that he wasn’t going to reproduce that effort.

“That was the only concern for us but we were pretty convinced the wet track would be better for him.

“The horse has got that very good turn of foot and Tom (Marquand) said he was always confident turning for home.’’

DUBAI HONOUR WINS THE G1 QUEEN ELIZABETH!

The battle we had all been waiting for, @WilliamHaggas and @TomMarquand have achieved the feat once again. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/t36Q3MWjZO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 8, 2023

TAB Fixed Odds price assessors have already released the first betting markets for the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Dubai Honour installed a dominant $6 favourite then it’s $15 or longer the rest.

Haggas, who combined with jockey Tom Marquand to win successive Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2020-21 with Addeybb, revealed he has the same ambitions with Dubai Honour.

“We want to try and bring Dubai Honour out here again next year,’’ Haggas said.

“He will go to Hong Kong (for the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on April 30) on the way home but we have to be careful not to do (race in) everything.

“I would also like to have a go at the Golden Eagle, that appeals to me. We are always looking for the right horse.’’

Haggas has made a habit of bringing the right horse to Sydney for the autumn carnival and has now won eight races including five at Group 1 level from 14 starters since 2020.

“You need the right horse,’’ he said. “Joseph (O’Brien, trainer) came down with a strong team but had a brutal time and that tells you how difficult it is.

“We have Purplepay here, she is a smart filly but she has looked very ordinary in her two Sydney runs. So, it’s about identifying the right horses and then it has to all go well.’’

William Haggas with Dubai Honour after winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng–Getty Images

Haggas, who prepared Shaamit to win the 1996 English Derby, said The Championships at Royal Randwick is now resonating in the racing world and he suspects more European trainers will target the rich prizemoney on offer during the Sydney autumn carnival.

“The Championships are pretty big,’’ he said. “Obviously we have had a bit of luck here so we are going to say that but it is a fantastic time racing in Sydney in the autumn.

“It’s a shame occasionally the weather ruins it but the concept is great, the atmosphere was terrific and I’m sure plenty more will come.

“The publicity we have had here has been demanding but lovely. It’s so nice that such an interest is taken by Australians in our great sport.

“What was lovely to me yesterday at Randwick was how many young people were there and how much the sport and business is thriving here. We are very envious in the Northern Hemisphere.’’

2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

$6 Dubai Honour

$15 Cascadian, Legarto, Mo’unga, Mr Brightside, Prowess, Sharp ‘N’ Smart, Unicorn Lion, Zaaki

$26 and longer the rest

#First betting market released by TAB Fixed Odds

Originally published as English maestro William Haggas has confirmed plans to set Dubai Honour for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes next year and also has designs on the Golden Eagle in spring